CHICAGO - John Danks was hoping to head out for a minor league rehab stint. Instead, the pitcher is headed back to Arizona.
Danks met with general manager Rick Hahn, manager Robin Ventura, pitching coach Don Cooper and trainer Herm Schneider before Monday's game against the Cleveland Indians, and the decision was made to have the left-hander make another start in the more controllable conditions of extended spring training.
"I just got to go out there and throw well again," Danks said. "So that's good. It put a little extra on me to get back. Hopefully it goes well."
Danks made only nine starts last season before season-ending surgery in August to repair a capsule tear and remove debris in his rotator cuff and biceps. He is in the second season of a $65 million, five-year contract.
Ventura said another start in extended spring training was "the best plan right now."
"From what the medical reports are and what he's doing, it's better to send him back there and make sure he's strong enough when he does go out, whenever that is," Ventura said. "Just continue on the plan he had."
Danks tried to get ready for the start of the season, but Chicago placed him on the 15-day disabled list on March 26.
The 28-year-old Danks had a career-high 15 wins for the White Sox in 2010, when he made 32 starts and cleared 200 innings for the second consecutive season. But he slipped to 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA in 2011 and had his injury woes last year.
"I'm making progress in the right direction," he said. "So I'm not worried about it. I figure I'll be back out on a rehab start if not after this one then maybe after the next one. So I'm not far. We'll see."
___
Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
